SARKOZYS NOT SO COZY THESE DAYS

BACK. I’m back from tiger-hunting in India. And speaking of jungles, I am now ready to face the real animals – New Yorkers.

CÉCILIA Sarkozy, the ex-Mrs. Presi dent of France, is en route to New York. She’ll camp in a hotel with their son, Louis, 10. Why’s she coming here? I don’t know. I’m lucky I know whatever I know. The French kids have school vacations now, I know that. I also know the lady’s a N.Y.C. lover. And would set up house here if she could. She can’t because Nicolas Sarkozy isn’t about to have his kid live in the United States. Mon Dieu! The French revolution would seem a waltz compared to a war in any trans-Atlantic custody case with the president of France.

This is a complicated and highly independent lady. She obviously loved her husband at one time. She just as obviously does not anymore. Disaffection began when he supposedly allegedly rumoredly got it on with a French journaliste. It did not negate the fact that Mr. Sarkozy still madly adored his wife. I mean, in France one thing has nothing to do with another. You’ll kindly recall La République‘s predecessor Jacques Chirac also played house inside the house of another lady. However, in Madame Sarkozy’s case, it set things in motion for her own extramarital romp.

Mme. Sarkozy is a very sexy lady. She left her husband two years ago for that man with whom she was romping. That man is still romping. However, not with her any longer. He is now living with another woman. These French people are so busy it’s a wonder they have any time left to make wine.

Friends who are big in France tell me Monsieur le President is still in love with his ex-wife. Sarkozy responds to strength and power. Moguls like Mike Bloomberg fascinate him. He is also fascinated by independent strong women. He has phoned his ex-wife repeatedly over the summer. Despite the headlines and drama and embarrassment, he still wants to stay married. It would appear she doesn’t.

NOW, about the Museum of the Moving Image salute to Tom Cruise at Cipri ani’s next Tuesday. Presenting highlights of his 25-year career will be a laundry list of big names from Kenneth Branagh to Tim Robbins, with behind-the-scenes types like Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Michael Mann. There are almost more dinner co-chairs than dinner guests. His partner Paula Wagner, his agent Rick Nicita, the Terry Semels, the Jerry Bruckheimers, the Peter Chernins, the Ron Meyers. It’s 22-karat Hollywood. This is the museum’s 23rd annual event. Its chief Rochelle Slovin has saluted Richard Gere, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, the best. This one’s so celebrity-packed that although Tom’s known for a dazzling smile, even he hasn’t enough teeth to flash for each RSVP’d VIP.

REMEMBER, next Sunday daylight-sav ing time is over. For some this fall, backward can be difficult. A 76-year-old woman in Denver got a hernia trying to reset her biological clock.

BESIDES Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova, Victoria’s Secret’s Karo lina Kurkova who’s Czech, Ieva Skuja the Latvian Calvin Klein girl, many top faces today are Eastern European. Hundreds of thousands risk to escape harsh lives for the American dream. For some, beginning at 14, the journey is fraught with pain, debasement and includes extortion to obtain a green card, promise of Internet marriage and a spiral into brutality and sexual slavery for those “willing to do anything to get to America.” This dark secret is exposed in Michael Viner‘s “Shattered Dreams, Broken Promises: The Cost of Coming to America.” On amazon.com’s “emigration and immigration list,” the just-published book is already among the top sellers.

TWO weeks ago I reported on a bit player actress named June Fairchild. In the ’60s and ’70s this good-looking blonde made a few movies, some even with Clint Eastwood. She then subsequently hit hard times. I’d heard he was reaching out to help her. A friend of hers has contacted me to say, “She’s healthy and well and working.” If Clint’s office wishes to reach out further, I can put them in touch.

TWO stewardesses pulling their roll-ons at JFK: First one: “I don’t care what you say, he’s really a good guy. He even does charity work.” Second one: “Yeah? Like what? Opening a shelter for Chia Pets?”